Graham Parker
BBC Live In Concert
Fuel 2000
This live retrospective of Graham Parker, one-third of the original troika of the new wave era’s Angry Young Limeys (along with Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson), showcases his hits as well as showing off a couple crackerjack backing bands (including ten cuts by the Rumour, his original outfit). Predominately culled from concerts in new wave’s heyday of 1977-82, the best cuts are Parker’s self-penned anthems like “Local Girls,” “Discovering Japan,” “Passion is No Ordinary Word” and “Mercury Poisoning,” but his forays into covering soul chestnuts like “Hold Back the Night” and “Chain of Fools” are also included, as well Parker’s attempts to emulate them (“Soul Shoes”).
Also includes two rather incongruous solo acoustic songs recorded in sessions in the ’90s. Overall, a good intro for folks who weren’t around back in the day, and a fun trip down memory lane for those who were.
